{"id":12765,"date":"2022-07-01T14:47:25","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T05:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/?p=12765"},"modified":"2023-07-24T15:11:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T06:11:31","slug":"tenjin_matsuri_festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/2022\/07\/01\/tenjin_matsuri_festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about Tenjin Matsuri Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Osaka has its share of festivals, and they\u2019re all fun, but Tenjin Matsuri is <em>the<\/em> summer festival in Osaka. It\u2019s got everything\u2014history, boats, parades, fireworks, and absolutely amazing festival food!<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 10px; border-radius: 0px; background: #f7f7f7;\">\n<h2 style=\"color: #fa7166; margin: 10px 0 0;\">(Contents)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor1\"> The basics <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor2\"> A little background <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor3\"> Pre-festival events <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor4\"> Tenjin Festival, day 1: rituals, music, &amp; festival stalls <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#anchor5\"> Tenjin Festival, day 2: parades, boats, &amp; fireworks <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\u201c#anchor6\"> Tips for festival-goers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"anchor1\" style=\"color: #fa7166;\">\u25a0 The basics<\/h2>\n<p>Tenjin Matsuri is one of Japan\u2019s biggest summer festivals. It\u2019s held annually at <a href=\"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/spot\/osaka-tenmangu-shrine\/\">Osaka Tenmang\u016b Shrine<\/a> and has a history stretching back over the last thousand years. It\u2019s hugely popular and draws upwards of 1 million spectators every year. Regardless of the day of week, Tenjin Matsuri is held on July 24 &amp; 25. When one or both of these days fall on a weekend there will be many more festival-goers, but even on a weekday, expect lots of people and lots of excitement.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_8-scaled-e1656653554657.jpg\" alt=\"festival stalls in Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Arcade for Tenjin Festival\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12824\" \/><br \/>\nLike Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, Tenjin Matsuri also has its roots in Shinto, which traditionally sees summer festivals as a way to ward off bad luck, plagues, and natural disasters. These festivals are held in honor of Shinto deities in hopes of appeasing any vengeful spirits while providing diversion and entertainment.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_26-scaled-e1656653950507.jpg\" alt=\"land procession festival floats are carried through Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Arcade by men in robes for Tenjin festival\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12827\" \/><br \/>\nTenjin Matsuri is held on the grounds of Osaka Tenmang\u016b Shrine, the surrounding streets and the nearby \u014ckawa (\u014c River). The nearest stations* are:<br \/>\nMinamimorimachi Station (Osaka Metro)<br \/>\n\u014csaka-Tenmang\u016b Station (JR Tozai Line)<br \/>\nTenmabashi Station (Osaka Metro and Keihan Railway)<\/p>\n<p>*As the land and boat processions travel further away from the shrine, other stations may be closer to portions of the procession route.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor2\" style=\"color: #fa7166;\">\u25a0 A little background<\/h2>\n<p>To understand the roots of this festival, you have to take a look at the shrine where it\u2019s held, <a href=\"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/spot\/osaka-tenmangu-shrine\/\">Osaka Tenmang\u016b Shrine<\/a>.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-01.jpg\" alt=\"Osaka Tenmangu Shrine entrance gate\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-01.jpg 800w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-01-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The shrine was built for Tenjin, the deity of scholarship and learning. In life he was Sugawara no Michizane (846\u2013903), a political figure renowned for his knowledge of Chinese literature and poetry. Michizane once had a close relationship with the emperor, but political dealings led him to be banished to the faraway island of Kyushu, where he eventually fell ill and died.\u2028\u2028After Michizane\u2019s death when misfortunes befell the imperial capital of Ky\u014dto, people attributed them to Michizane\u2019s angry spirit. A shrine was built to appease him and lift the curse. There are many Tenjin shrines throughout Japan and the Osaka shrine is one of the largest. Students from all over Kansai visit Osaka Tenmang\u016b to pray for good luck in their academics, especially during exam season.<br \/>\nTwo more fun facts:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>There\u2019s a natural spring on the shrine grounds. The water is from 70 meters underground and is utterly refreshing. There\u2019s a small shrine near the main entrance where you can taste the water, but it\u2019s only open 3 days a month\u2014the 1st, 10th, &amp; 25th.<\/li>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-11.jpg\" alt=\"natural spring water from small shrine at Osaka Tenmangu\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-11.jpg 800w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-11-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<li>Tenjin is affiliated with oxen so you\u2019ll often find ox statues on Tenjin shrine grounds. This one is supposed to improve your health wherever you stroke it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-10.jpg\" alt=\"person touching sacred ox statue at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine to improve health and relieve pain. the greenish tinted ox has shiny patches on its head and other places people often touch\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-10.jpg 800w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/01\/exploring-osaka-temmangu-shrine-10-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor3\" style=\"color: #fa7166;\">\u25a0 Pre-festival events<\/h2>\n<p>July 23<br \/>\nGal Mikoshi, an event where a group of about 80 women hoist portable shrines on their shoulders and parade them through the streets near Osaka Tenmang\u016b Shrine, takes place on July 23. The portable shrines are heavy, weighing about 200kg and the women are dressed in bright, colorful, festival costume. There is lots of joyful shouting and cheering. The event has a real get-this-party-started type of vibe and it\u2019s tons of fun!<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_9-scaled-e1656646011833.jpg\" alt=\"gal mikoshi in Tenjinbashisuji Shopping arcade, young women in festival costume carry golden portable shrine for Tenjin Matsuri\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12802\" \/><br \/>\nCompared to the long history of the festival, Gal Mikoshi is relatively new. When it was last held in 2019, the event was in its 39th year. The tradition started in 1981 and has been a fun way to kick off the festival events ever since.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_12-scaled-e1656646329776.jpg\" alt=\"gal mikoshi in Tenjinbashisuji Shopping arcade, young women in festival costume carry golden portable shrine for Tenjin Matsuri\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12804\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor4\" style=\"color: #fa7166;\">\u25a0 Tenjin Festival, day 1: rituals, music, &amp; festival stalls<\/h2>\n<p>July 24<br \/>\nOpening rituals take place early in the morning. A parade of about 200 people leave Tenmang\u016b Shrine and head towards the river where a priest continues the rituals for Michizane\u2019s spirit. A small boat with the priest and a young boy onboard is paddled out into the river and the boy sets a wooden spear (<em>hoko<\/em>) adrift on Dojima River. The ceremony includes prayers for safety and in hopes of warding off illness and misfortune.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_34-scaled-e1656650304306.jpg\" alt=\"Osaka Tenmangu Shrine gate on Tenjin Festival day 1\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12806\" \/><br \/>\nDuring the day flutes and drums can be heard throughout the neighborhood as the <em>shishimai<\/em> (lion dance) makes its rounds of local businesses. The lion dancers are accompanied by women garbed in sleek festival clothing, wearing bells and brightly colored sashes on their waists. They move in time with the music and spin swirly umbrellas as they move through the streets. Festival stalls will already be set up in <a href=\"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/spot\/tenjimbashisuji-shopping-street\/\">Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Arcade<\/a> and other places near the shrine.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_49-scaled-e1656655625637.jpg\" alt=\"shishimai lion dance at Osaka Tenmangu, dancers draped in green robes carry a gold lion mask over their heads in unison\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12848\" \/><br \/>\nIt is considered good luck to put your head in the lion&#8217;s mouth. You might witness a scene like this during the day.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_32-scaled-e1656651413471.jpg\" alt=\"gold lion mask bites head of young man during shishimai lion dance rituals\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12814\" \/><br \/>\nThe shrine remains lively with taiko drumming and a fun festival atmosphere well into the evening. This is also a good chance to see the unique dragon dance (<em>ryu-odori<\/em>) which depicts a dragon climbing up to heaven. Dancers are perched above a stage and dance to the rhythmic sounds of taiko and high-pitched gongs.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_63-scaled-e1656650822749.jpg\" alt=\"Woman dances the dragon dance at Tenjin Festival. She extends two fingers on each hand to symbolize the movements of a dragon\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12810\" \/><br \/>\nFestival-goers can see this dance performed on both days of the festival. There&#8217;s something about the repetitive rhythms and symbolic dance movements that feels almost hypnotizing.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_50-scaled-e1656650862422.jpg\" alt=\"musician plays drums and gong at Tenjin Festival in Osaka\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12809\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor5\" style=\"color: #fa7166;\">\u25a0 Tenjin Festival, day 2: parades, boats, &amp; fireworks<\/h2>\n<p>July 25<br \/>\nThe 2nd day is the main day of the festival when the spirit of Tenjin\/Michizane is led through town in a portable shrine, first on land and then on the river.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_29-scaled-e1656653402841.jpg\" alt=\"ornately carved festival float is pulled out of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine for festival procession\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12822\" \/><br \/>\nThe land procession starts around 3:30 in the afternoon and lasts for approximately 2.5 hours. It winds for about 3 km out from the shrine, making its way down past Osaka City Central Public Hall, across Naniwa Bridge and Tenjinbashi, before arriving at the riverside.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/06\/DSC_4621.jpg\" alt=\"men in red hats on taiko platform being carried on platform during Tenjin Festival\" width=\"2128\" height=\"1424\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/06\/DSC_4621.jpg 2128w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/06\/DSC_4621-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/06\/DSC_4621-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/06\/DSC_4621-2048x1370.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2128px) 100vw, 2128px\" \/><br \/>\nIn the procession, you\u2019ll see the giant taiko drum and about 8 drummers in tall red hats mounted on a platform that is carried by festival volunteers. Next you\u2019ll see Sarutahiko, a long-nosed kami who appears on horseback. There are also lion dancers, umbrella dancers, musicians, and ornately carved danjiri floats in the procession. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/06\/DSC_4730-e1656571520684.jpg\" alt=\"Sarutahiko, shinto deity in Tenjin Festival procession on horseback\" width=\"800\" height=\"1196\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12771\" \/><br \/>\nAt the end of the procession you\u2019ll see children leading a sacred ox and the final <em>mikoshi<\/em> (portable shrine) which carries Tenjin\u2019s spirit. After the mikoshi reaches the river, it is loaded onto a boat and the boat procession begins. When the boat holding the kami\u2019s spirit passes, music stops and onlookers are asked not to look down on the boat from overhead to show respect.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0721tenjinmatsuri1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Tenjin matsuri, festival boats on the Okawa river at sunset\" width=\"800\" height=\"560\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0721tenjinmatsuri1-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0721tenjinmatsuri1-1-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0721tenjinmatsuri1-1-400x280.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>All in all, there are about 100 boats parading up and down the river. Some are stage boats that feature Noh and Bunraku performances. There are also a handful of <em>Dondoko<\/em> Boats, which are propelled by young men rowing to the rythmic sound of taiko drums and high-pitched gongs (<em>kane).<\/em><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_96-scaled-e1656651610266.jpg\" alt=\"dondoko boats full of rowers on river and illuminated by lanterns for Tenjin Matsuri Festival\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12815\" \/><br \/>\nOnce the mikoshi has completed its course on the river and is returned to land and eventually the shrine, the fireworks start. The show lasts from about 7:30\u20139:00 pm and it dazzles! There\u2019s something so amazing about the Tenjin Matsuri fireworks that shoot high above the city. Each year it seems like there is something new and the finale is always spectacular.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_130-e1656651885513.jpeg\" alt=\"fireworks over the Okawa River at Tenjin Matsuri summer festival with boat in foreground\" width=\"800\" height=\"821\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12818\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anchor6\" style=\"color: #fa7166;\">\u25a0 Tips for festival-goers<\/h2>\n<p>The festival is held during the hottest season of the year, so be sure to stay hydrated and stay out of the sun as much as possible if you are attending the daytime festivities.\u2028\u2028While you will be able to enter the shrine grounds and view parts of the land procession, if you\u2019re in the right place, it is harder to get a look at the boats and fireworks. Tons of people go early to snap up the good picnic areas along the \u014c River so if you want to be able to see the boats, either camp out early or purchase a reserved seat ahead of time.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/DSC_0095-scaled-e1656654760304.jpg\" alt=\"Festival volunteers standing around chatting at Tenjin Festival in traditional festival clothing, jinbei and hachimaki\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12837\" \/><br \/>\nThe trains will be very crowded, so if you are taking public transportation, plan ahead. If you don\u2019t have a train pass, buy your return ticket early can save you a wait at the ticket machines.<br \/>\nAnother good option is to stop in a local izakaya or bar until the crowd thins out. It will make fun memories and a great end to your night. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/_222-scaled-e1656651985938.jpg\" alt=\"people returning home after last night of Tenjin Matsuri festival with lanterns lining the street\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12819\" \/><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Osaka has its share of festivals, and they\u2019re all fun, but Tenjin Matsuri is the summer festival in Osaka. It\u2019s got everything\u2014history, boats, parades, fireworks, and absolutely amazing festival food! (Contents) The basics A little background Pre-festival events Tenjin Festival, day 1: rituals, music, &amp; festival stalls Tenjin Festival, day 2: parades, boats, &amp; fireworks [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":1412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[219,199,243,143,220,166],"tags":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"author_id":"","author_name":"","author_image":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12765"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12765"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17584,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12765\/revisions\/17584"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maido-bob.osaka\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}